HC Deb 19 February 1901 vol 89 cc484-5
MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that the system of valuation in urban district councils differs from the English method, he will consider the advisability of introducing a measure to assimilate the law, so as to enable the periodical and general revaluation by local authorities in Ireland.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM,) Dover

If the chief object of the hon. Member is to secure a revaluation of urban districts under the existing system which is now being applied to county boroughs, I will consider the possibility of dealing separately with such districts. But to supersede the existing system would not, I think, be expedient and would meet with great opposition from many quarters in which the Irish system is justly considered superior to that which prevails in England.

MR. FIELD

Are we to understand it is proposed to assimilate the English to the Irish system, which is superior?

MR. WYNDHAM

I believe in many quarters in Ireland a general revaluation for the whole country is held to be of the highest importance. There would be great objection to having one which was merely local and piecemeal.